Anxiety-Free Dentistry
Sedation Dentistry: Relieving Anxiety & Eliminating Pain
Many dental patients experience anxiety when visiting the dentist’s office. This can be due to a number of different factors, but one thing is always constant: with dental anxiety, the dentist’s office is never enjoyable. To help our patients feel comfortable and at-ease during treatment, our doctors here at Euclid Dental Center proudly offer comprehensive sedation dentistry options to her patients’ in Ontario & Chino, CA. While necessary for intensive procedures that can cause patients’ anxiety , sedation methods can also be used on less-intensive treatments to help relax patients. On this page, our dental team has put together a short guide on all of the sedation dentistry options we offer. Read on to learn more, and contact our team at (909) 391-4300 to schedule your appointment today!
Inhalation Conscious Sedation
Inhalation conscious sedation is one of the oldest and most common forms of sedation and is still used by the medical community to this day. This type of sedation involves the controlled administration of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) through small tubes placed just inside the nostrils. As patients inhale the gas, they become relaxed though completely very quickly. Though nitrous oxide is excellent at alleviating mental anxiety and stress in patients. It also wears off relatively quickly, making it a great option for those who have scheduled their dental appointments in between other commitments.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral sedation involves the ingestion of a pill to relax the patient in hours leading to the appointment . Oral sedation is the preferred method of sedation for many because it is easy to administer and does not require the use of a needle. The oral sedative is a type of Benzodiazepine ( Valium, Halcium, Xanax) which decreases activity in the parts of the brain that controls fear and anxiety. The result is a very relaxed and calm patient. Depending on the patient and how anxious or fearful they are, our doctors adjust the dosage of sedation drugs administered. Patients that are very fearful of dental procedures can be put in deep sedation which leads to them having no memory of the procedure.This is great for patients suffering from dental fear because they will have no recollection of what went on during the dental appointment. Although patients feel very drowsy with this sedation, they will still be conscious and responsive, hence the term “conscious sedation.” Make sure you have a companion who can drive you to and from your dental appointment since you can’t be driving.
